African Casino

What You Need

• A standard 52-card deck
• Paper and a pencil for the scores

Card values run 2 to 10 at face value, then Jack 11, Queen 12, King 13. An Ace is 1 or 14, your choice each time, but its value locks once it sits in a build.

Setup

1. Shuffle. The non-dealer cuts four cards from the middle of the deck and lays them face up. This is the layout.
2. If those four cards are worth 3 or more scoring points, or include 3 or more picture cards, reshuffle and cut again.
3. The dealer gives 12 cards to each player, one at a time.
4. Non-dealer plays first. The deal alternates each hand.

How a Turn Works

Play exactly one card. It does one of these things.

1. Capture. Your card takes any single layout card of the same value, any group of layout cards that add up to its value, and any build that equals its value, all at once. Captured cards go face up on your capture pile, newest on top.
2. Build. Combine your card with layout cards into a pile whose values add up to a number you hold in your hand. Say the number. You own that build and must capture it later.
3. Raise an opponent's build. Add one card from your hand to change its value. You must hold the new value. The build is now yours.
4. Augment a build you own. Add more cards or sets that each equal the build's value. You may pull from the layout, one card from your hand, and the top card of your opponent's capture pile.
5. Trail. Drop your card into the layout without taking anything.

Key Rules

• You cannot capture straight from your opponent's capture pile. Only its top card is exposed, and only for augmenting a build you own. That is the steal. Pull their 10 of Diamonds into your build of 10s, then capture the build.
• A build is captured only by one card matching its value. Two builds of the same value cannot exist at once.
• You may augment an opponent's build only if you capture it in the same turn.
• If you capture but leave cards you were entitled to, your opponent can make you take them. If cards on the table or on top of their pile could legally join your build, they can make you add them before your turn ends.
• You may not use up every card that could capture your own build.
• During the first 12 cards you may not trail while you own a build, and you may own at most one build at the end of your turn. Both limits vanish for the second 12 cards.

Ending a Hand

When the first 12 cards are played, leave the layout as it is and deal the remaining 12 to each player. When those are gone, whoever made the last capture takes everything left in the layout.

Scoring

Eleven points are available each hand.

• Most cards: 2 points. A tie gives 1 each.
• Most spades: 2 points. A tie gives 1 each.
• 2 of Spades, the spy two: 1 point
• 10 of Diamonds, the big ten: 2 points
• Each Ace: 1 point
• Sweeps score nothing.

Winning

Keep a running total over several hands. Play to an agreed target. We suggest 21. Tied at the end, play one more hand.

Strategy Tips

• When you capture several cards at once, put the Aces, big ten and spy two under the others. Only the top card of your pile is exposed.
• In the first 12 cards, a build you own stops you trailing. Build only when the capturing card is safe in your hand.

Variations

• South African Casino. Strip the picture cards for a 40-card deck. Deal 10 cards each, with no cards on the table at the start. The top card of your opponent's pile can be captured directly. Most spades is replaced by 1 point for holding five or more spades.
• Crazy Casino. Deal 8 cards each and draw back to 8 from a stock after every play.